Modi’s rallies at Gurgaon, Ghaziabad, Kurukshetra(Videos)

New Delhi, 3 April 2014

Attacking Congress president Sonia Gandhi over her meeting with the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid alleging that she was resorting to ‘rabid communalism’ BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Thursday asked the Election Commission to take initiate action.

Congress rejected the charge and said politicians are free to meet religious leaders in a secular country. The BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate said Congress ‘spies’ had been closely following his rallies to see if he uttered any ‘communal’ word so that they could go after him.

“They were troubled as there is no smell of communalism in what Modi is saying….They don’t know how to deal with me. Sensing defeat, they have dropped the slogan of secularism and started rabid communalism. The Congress leader has started speaking the language of rabid communalism,” he said.

Modi was addressing a public meeting in support of BJP candidates in this Uttar Pradesh district on the outskirts of the national capital.

“What she said….I appeal to the Election Commission to initiate action into it….Asking for votes on the basis of communalism is against the rules of the Election Commission,” he said.

Congress leader Anand Sharma dismissed Modi’s accusations against Gandhi and said politicians are free to meet religious leaders in a secular and diverse country like India.

“We are a secular, diverse country and to be secular does not mean we are atheists. The leaders of Congress and other parties are free to meet Shankaracharya, saints, imams and dharma gurus. It does not mean doing communal politics. Hindu religion is not something given to RSS on contract,” he said.

The Election Commission said it will take cognisance of the matter only when it receives a complaint even as Modi wondered as to why the EC had not taken any action so far after Gandhi’s reported appeal to Muslims through the Imam that secular votes should not be divided.

Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath, to a poser on Modi’s demand, said in Jammu that the poll panel will take cognisance if it receives a complaint against Gandhi’s appeal through Bukhari.

“We generally, in such matters will take cognisance on the receipt of complaint. As soon as it is received, we will definitely examine and further action would be taken. We should be awaiting that,” he told reporters.

Modi brings Vadra in the line of fire, attacks Sonia, Rahul

BJP ‘s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi sought answer from Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on his brother-in-law Robert Vadra’s role in dubious land deals in Haryana and other brought Robert Vadra in the line of fire on controversial land deals, asking Rahul Gandhi whether his brother-in-law would be asked to act as ‘chowkidar’ (watchman) to guard peoples’ land.

Addressing election rallies in Kurukshetra, Ghaziabad and Gurgaon, Modi raised the pitch against Rahul and also Sonia Gandhi, who he accused of resorting to “rabid communalism” by appealing to Muslim leaders to ensure their votes are not split and sought Election Commission’s action in this regard.

Taking a dig at Rahul in Kurukshetra in Haryana, Modi said “Shehzade” has been talking about the need for all countrymen to act as ‘chowkidar’ over its resources and asked if his brother in law (Vadra) would also be one of those keeping guard.

“Shehzada, people want to know what goes on in your house,” Modi later said at a rally in Gurgaon, neighbouring Delhi.

“People want to know who the baazigar (gambler) is who has earned Rs 50 crore in three months,” he told the crowd, without naming Vadra.

“How is he related to Rahul Gandhi?” he asked with some among the gathering shouting “jija-ji (brother-in-law).” Vadra, who has drawn fire over his controversial land deals in Haryana and Rajasthan, has denied any wrongdoing.

Modi asserted that new laws would be framed to bring back black money stashed abroad if BJP comes to power while warning that those who have “looted” the country, no matter how powerful, would not be spared.